Volleyball coach teaching for future success

After missing the entire the 2009 season, the Westland High School boys and girls soccer teams are looking forward to returning to the field this fall.

Westland High School girls volleyball coach Bryan Webb is looking forward to his team's return to the court.

The Cougars don't have any seniors, but Webb feels his squad deep with underclassmen has a chance to develop into a solid unit.

"Right now we're in the teaching phase," said Webb, in his third season with the Cougars. "By the time they're juniors, it's going to be more of the pushing phase. It's been a lot of teaching this year."

Two seasons ago, Westland finished 5-17 overall and 2-12 in the OCC-Central Division. Last season, falls sports were canceled in the South-Western City Schools after voters rejected an operational levy in August.

Webb realizes there might be some growing pains with his young team, but believes eventually it can become a solid contender. There are no girls on the team with varsity experience.

Juniors Malaney Nicholson (outside hitter) and Brittany Starner (right-side hitter) are expected to crack the starting lineup and provide leadership. Starner played at the junior varsity level as a freshman.

The Shamrocks reached the Division I state final before losing 25-16, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17 to Cincinnati Ursuline Academy.

Webb hopes his team can be competitive in the challenging division.

"Our goal is to improve every day," Webb said. "As far as wins and losses go, we're going to struggle, but there are a couple of teams in our league that we should at least be able to compete with." •The boys and girls cross country teams also lack experience. Only three runners return who have competed at the varsity level.

Seniors Caimen Lewis and Ben Warner are the lone boys with varsity experience. Seniors Jon Bowen, Abdi Omer and Dylan Ross are new to the sport, but competed on the track and field team in the spring.

Junior John White is also in his first year in the sport. Sophomore Sean Tho, who also competed on the track and field team, will also be making his debut.

"A lot of our kids are first-year cross country runners, which is not ideal," fourth-year coach Josh Barkeloo said.

"I would have loved to have had these guys four years, but the fact that they have track experience is the next best thing."

Barkeloo hopes to add runners to a girls team that will be incomplete in the early season.

Junior Brooklyn Harris, the team's top runner at district in 2008, is the lone runner with varsity experience.

Juniors Louise Kirk, a foreign exchange student from Denmark, and Moni Neri are new to the sport. Neri competed in the shot put and discus during the track and field season.

"Moni is more built as a distance runner and she has had some decent times at practice," Barkeloo said.

Two years ago, the girls team was eighth (249) at the OCC-Central meet behind first-place Upper Arlington (32) and 10th (289) at district behind champion Davidson (39).

"We still have plenty of room for improvement, but the season is still young," Barkeloo said. "We're definitely looking for people to step up.

"I would be happy knowing that everyone left everything that they had on the course. Ideally, you would like to see somebody move on to regional, but if they're working hard and they're getting better every meet that's all I can ask."